Gretzky Injured At Cup

September 15, 1991|By Mike Kiley, Chicago Tribune.

MONTREAL — This could mean war between Canada and the United States.

One of Canada`s most valued national resources, Wayne Gretzky, collapsed in pain Saturday night in the Canada Cup finals when Team USA`s Gary Suter smashed him into the boards behind the U.S. net in the second period of Canada`s 4-1 victory.

There was no immediate word on the extent or nature of Gretzky`s injury. At first it appeared to be to his right arm, but he was flexing his right leg later.

The worrisome situation took some of the fun out of the first game of a best-of-three championship that continues Monday night in Hamilton, Ontario.

The U.S. is trying to prove it belongs at this level, never having held on this long in this six-nation tournament.

Gretzky was chasing down the puck along the right boards in the U.S. end. Hawk defenseman Chris Chelios was the first to pick him up, but Gretzky slipped that check in the corner.

Just as he centered the puck toward the front of the net, Suter followed up with a smashing check. The hit lifted Gretzky off his feet and tossed him like a rag doll into the end boards.

Some will contend Calgary`s Suter should have been penalized for boarding. But referee Don Koharski didn`t call a penalty.

The fans in Montreal grew quiet as Gretzky tried to get up and dropped down immediately clutching his right arm. Team Canada`s trainer held Gretzky in his arms as The Great One laid out on the ice. After a brief respite, Gretzky skated off to the dressing room. The camera showed a dazed look in his eyes.

Seeing Gretzky checked is a phenomenon in itself. The Los Angeles center usually is treated with kid gloves because of his reputation as the greatest active player.

Shortly before Gretzky was injured, he showed off his tremendous skills by passing to Steve Larmer for the goal that put Canada ahead 2-0. Gretzky collected the rebound of an Al MacInnis bullet up the middle and wasted no time spotting Larmer breaking to the net left of the crease.

Suter kept his head in the game after the incident. He scored the Americans` first goal less than two minutes later, shooting it low between the pads of a confused Bill Ranford, who didn`t square up well against the attempt. The Americans trailed 2-1 after two periods.

Hawks center Jeremy Roenick, one of Team USA`s offensive sparks, made the pass that broke Suter for his goal. Roenick gave him the puck as Suter skated up the slot.

Another Hawk, Canada`s Dirk Graham, locked horns with Hawk teammate Chelios during a shorthanded situation. Graham`s pass to Dale Hawerchuk while killing a U.S. power play almost led to a Hawerchuk goal.

When Graham pressed goalie Mike Richter after that save, jabbing his stick under the downed Richter looking for the puck, Chelios put a solid stick check on Graham and fell on him.

The competition was physical. Once again, Canada`s Eric Lindros demonstrated strong-arm tactics that will make him one of the NHL`s most feared players when last June`s No. 1 draft pick either settles his contract dispute with Quebec or is traded elsewhere.

Conflict broke out in earnest late in the second period when Philadelphia`s Rick Tocchet decided to jump on a fallen Chelios. Canada drew three roughing calls from the tussle and the Americans two.

Montreal fans cheered a little harder for Canada`s first goal because Canadiens` defenseman Eric Desjardins scored it. After gathering in the rebound of Mark Messier`s shot, Desjardins cut left to backhand the puck down low, past Richter.

Canada first invaded the U.S. zone on the rush that eventually led to the goal with Messier setting up Luc Robitaille, who almost netted a goal. Desjardins struck shortly afterward.

The Americans opened fairly strong, keeping the puck in Canada`s end much of the first couple minutes. But there was miscommunication, too. Brett Hull`s crossing pass found no one home when Pat LaFontaine forgot to stop by the right crease edge. He skated in back of the net instead.

LaFontaine kicked the cage off its moorings later in the first period or the U.S. would have had its first goal. Koharski disallowed the score, ruling that defenseman hadn`t pushed LaFontaine into jarring the net loose.

Both sides were taking matters seriously. Shayne Corson sparked tempers when bumped with U.S. defenseman Brian Leetch and chewed him out. Leetch had been propelled into Ranford, knocking the netminder off his feet.

U.S. defenseman Jim Johnson retaliated because of Corson`s actions. Koharski saw it, however, and penalized Johnson for slashing. Gretzky, Lindros and Larmer opened on the power play for Canada, but failed to connect.

Perhaps Ranford`s biggest save in holding the U.S. scoreless in the first period was on a Hull shot during a power play. The St. Louis Blues` star slammed it up the middle from the high slot. Jeremy Roenick couldn`t get a piece of a rebound chance and Craig Janney`s follow-up attempt missed.

LaFontaine challenged Ranford with a shot with 6:34 remaining before the first intermission. But Ranford continued to be a solid wall in the crease.

Richter wasn`t shabby, either. Gretzky raced at him from the left wing on a breakaway with about nine minutes to go in the period. Richter turned Gretzky`s shot aside.